Johnsonville man jailed on multiple counts after Saratoga chase

One police officer and two motorists were injured when a Rensselaer County man led police on a late-night New Year's chase that ended in a multi-car crash at a Saratoga Springs intersection. (Photo provided)

Aaron Elliot, 25, of Johnsonville faces multiple charges after leading city of Saratoga Springs police on a late-night chase, which ended in a multi-car crash injuring a police officer and two additional motorists. (Photo provided)

SARATOGA SPRINGS - A Rensselaer County man faces numerous charges, including two felonies, after leading police on a late-night chase that ended in a multi-car crash at the intersection of Lake Avenue and Circular Street.

One police officer and two other motorists were injured during the incident which resulted in damage to six cars, beginning at 1:04 a.m. Tuesday.

That's when police first observed Aaron Elliot, 25, of Johnsonville, making a left-hand turn onto Broadway, from the right-hand lane of Lake Avenue.

Elliott headed south on Broadway and the officer also noticed that the trunk of his vehicle was open. The officer caught up to Elliott and turned on his emergency lights in an attempt to stop him on Ballston Ave near the intersection of Hamilton Street.

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However, Elliot allegedly took off and went through the Pizza Hut and McDonald's parking lots to get away from the officer. Elliot's vehicle exited the parking lots on to South Broadway without stopping and narrowly missed two pedestrians that were walking past the McDonald's, police said.

He then looped around the block in a continued effort to evade police and slammed into a vehicle that was pulling in to the Pizza Hut parking lot. After striking this vehicle, Elliot continued out of the parking lots again and back on to South Broadway - headed north.

Next, Elliot took an immediate right onto Circular Street. By this time other police units were responding to assist in what had become a police pursuit.

Elliot continued north on Circular Street where he ran a stop sign at Whitney Place and red lights at the intersections of Union Avenue, Spring Street and Caroline Street where they meet Circular Street.

Police, by this time, backed down on their pursuit because it was clear to them that Elliot had total disregard for other vehicles and pedestrians on the roadway. As Elliot approached the intersection of Lake Avenue and Circular Street, two moving vehicles were in front of him and a police vehicle was approaching him.

Elliot did not slow down and slammed into the first vehicle in front of him causing that vehicle to strike the vehicle in front of it. Elliot then slammed into the driver's side front of the approaching police vehicle, operated by Patrolman Patrick O'Leary. All of the vehicles came to rest on Circular Street just short of the intersection with Lake Avenue.

Responding officers immediately began assisting those that were in the vehicles struck by Elliot and emergency responders were sent to the scene. One person was transported to Saratoga Hospital with minor injuries and later released. O'Leary and another driver hit by Elliot were treated at the scene.

Some of the cars damaged during the incident were totaled, police said.

Elliot, who was not injured, was taken into custody at the scene and following arraignment Tuesday morning was sent to Saratoga County Jail. Bail has been set at $20,000 cash and $40,000 bond.

Elliott has been charged with first-degree reckless endangerment, a felony; felony driving while intoxicated for having a prior DWI offense within the past 10 years; reckless driving, unlawful fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle and numerous vehicle and traffic violations: improper lane use, driving the wrong way on a one-way street, leaving the scene of a property damage auto accident, failure stop at a sign, a vehicle entering roadway violation, speeding, failure to keep right, refusing a pre-screening alcohol test and three counts of running a red light.

"This is not over," city police Lt. John Catone said. "The investigation is continuing. There could be other charges down the road. It might be going to a grand jury."